What You Really Need To Know About Buying Health Insurance

Health insurance is not just about getting medical care when you are sick. It is about being and staying as healthy as you can.

Before you set out to get your health insurance, sit down and make out a list of what you really need versus what you want. You will want to know things like what the plan covers, if you need specialized care or follow-up or if you need rehab therapy, physical therapy or another form of therapy. Also, make it a point to also ask what your health insurance plan does not cover, as often that is equally as important as what is covered.

You will also need to know if the health insurance plan you are considering covers your prescriptions. While that may sound odd, some plans do not cover certain medications. For instance, some plans cover generic drugs that do the same thing as brand name medicines, but they are not precisely the same thing. You need to know that if you are on a medication where the doctor says no substitutes are acceptable.

Before signing on the dotted line for anything, figure out what health insurance the people you already see will accept. No sense getting a policy they will not accept. Some insurance plans only allow you to visit certain doctors or clinics. Just be aware of what options you have, because you may find it best to pay a bit more a month to keep seeing the doctor you really like. If this does not matter to you, you can save money by going with a lower premium and some restrictions.

When you have a good idea of what you want to do and the kind of coverage you need to have, now is the time to start hunting for quotes. Get them in writing (online), because this will give you a visual record of who you asked for quotes, what they are offering and who else to compare them to in the bigger picture. It is a good way to make easy comparisons. It is also a good way to do research on insurance companies and see how they rank in terms of customer service, etc.

Even if you have a leg up and find what you want with no trouble, always, always, always, read the fine print. This cannot be emphasized enough, because if you do not do that, you may find out later there were hidden costs or that things you thought were covered are not. Truly? Buyer be aware.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com.

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